ChIPS recently held its annual camp from 16th – 18th January at Mt Evelyn Recreation Camp. Always a highlight on the ChIPS calendar, this year 42 members attended along with ChIPS staff, volunteers and a healthcare team – our biggest attendance yet! Over the three days a mixture of group and team activities unfolded. T-ball is fast becoming a tradition at camp and teams competed for points in activities such as archery, giant swing and skits.

The theme for this year’s camp was Harry Potter and a definite highlight was the ‘Halloween/ Sci-Fi’ costume party on the second night. ChIPS members went all out with costumes this year; there was everything from zombie brides to spiders! Despite the heat we all managed to have a fabulous time!

The Camp Committee did an awesome job of delivering a fantastic event. A BIG thanks to everyone that went to camp for contributing to a memorable event. Bring on camp 2014!!

The second ChIPS social of the year was full of circus skills!  A trainer came to show ChIPS members how to juggle, plate spin, hula hoop along with a whole host of others things, then it was up to them to try their hand at everything….it was harder than it looked!  Lots of laughs come out of the day and everyone had a whole lot of fun trying something different.

There was also time to just hang out with each other and get to know new ChIPERS.

What will be planned for the next social?!

The July school holidays saw another Leadership Training come and go.

Over the two days ChIPS members discussed the concept of leadership, Tony Cammerano shared an inspirational story, Laurie Smale gave a presentation on how to panic less when speaking in public and games were completed which highlighted different aspects of leadership.

Thanks to everyone that come along, special thanks to our presenters and Jane and Patrick from the Victoria Police High Challenge Program for sharing their leadership ‘bag of tricks’ on the second day.

We hope to see lots of ChIPERS at Leadership Training 2013 – it is a great way to improve your leadership skills, meet new ChIPERS and have fun!

The ChIPS Wrapper has arrived!

Fresh off the press the 2010/2011 Wrapper is here!  This Wrapper is extra special as it includes two years worth of ChIPS news, events, photos, songs and much more.  Huge congratulations to the Publications Committees from the last two years for your efforts in getting this produced.  Well Done! J

If you are keen to get your hands on a copy contact Jarnia Cameron, ChIPS Team Leader on jarnia.cameron@rch.org.au or 9345 6616.

ChIPS Leadership Training
On 7^th and 8^th July ChIPS held its annual Leadership Training.

It was great to see ChIPERS old and new come together to learn about the concept of leadership and develop and practice that one skill that not many people enjoy – public speaking! Lots of laughs were had and skills learnt, the group presentations at the end of the training were pretty impressive!

A big thanks to all those that came along this year.
Any ChIPER is eligible to attend Leadership Training. If you are interested in finding out more please contact the ChIPS office.

For more information contact Jarnia Cameron, ChIPS Team Leader on 9345 6616 or jarnia.cameron@rch.org.au

Taking place on the 2^nd Wednesday of the month from 6.00pm to 8.00pm, February through November, the ChIPS Reference Committee meets in the Board Room of the Royal Children’s Hospital to provide leadership and direction to the ChIPS program.  Currently 20 young people and 4 mentors form the committee which has four sub-committees: Camp, Publication, Advocacy and Socials.